A cylinder head replacement costs $3,041 to $6,232 in 2026
A cylinder head replacement costs $3,041 to $6,232 in 2026 for common cars, per RepairPal. Its national average is $4,241 to $5,101. Labor is about $1,695 to $2,487 and parts are about $2,546 to $2,615. SoFi says you can expect the average cost to be between $4,100 and $4,900 at an auto shop. AutoPartsWDS says a cylinder head replacement can run from $1,000 to $4,000 or more.
Cylinder head replacement cost by car
RepairPal lists these ranges for the most common cars. Your year and engine move the price inside each range.
| Car | Price, parts and labor |
|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | $5,259 to $6,232 |
| Nissan Altima | $4,684 to $5,748 |
| Honda Civic | $4,784 to $5,707 |
| Toyota Camry | $3,991 to $5,026 |
| Ford F-150 | $4,192 to $4,847 |
| Honda Accord | $4,048 to $4,794 |
| Toyota Corolla | $3,722 to $4,612 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | $3,041 to $3,553 |
How common cars compare
Against the middle of the RepairPal national average, $4,671, the Honda CR-V runs about 23 percent more; the Nissan Altima runs about 12 percent more; the Honda Civic runs about 12 percent more; the Toyota Camry is about the national middle; the Ford F-150 is about the national middle; the Honda Accord runs about 5 percent less; the Toyota Corolla runs about 11 percent less; the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 runs about 29 percent less. The gap comes from where the part sits, how long it takes to reach, and the price of the part for that car.
What price guides say
We checked 3 price guides. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| RepairPal | National average $4,241 to $5,101. Labor is about $1,695 to $2,487 and parts are about $2,546 to $2,615. |
| SoFi | SoFi says you can expect the average cost to be between $4,100 and $4,900 at an auto shop. |
| AutoPartsWDS | AutoPartsWDS says a cylinder head replacement can run from $1,000 to $4,000 or more. |
What pushes the quote up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Engine size | V6 and V8 engines have two heads. Each head adds parts and labor. |
| Head type | A new head, a rebuilt head, and a used head have very different prices. |
| Labor time | The shop takes off the intake, exhaust, and timing parts. This job often needs many hours. |
| Extra parts | The job needs a head gasket set, head bolts, coolant, and oil. Many shops also replace the timing belt or chain. |
| Machine work | The block face must be flat. A machine shop may need to check the head for cracks and warping. |
How to tell you need it
- The engine overheats and coolant disappears with no leak you can see.
- You see white smoke from the tailpipe, or oil that looks like milky coffee.
- A shop runs a compression test or a block test and finds a cracked or warped head.
What the price includes
The price usually covers the head, a gasket set, bolts, fluids, and the labor to take apart and rebuild the top of the engine. Machine work may be extra. It does not include tax, shop supply fees, or other repairs the shop finds while the car is in.
How to judge your quote
- Ask how the shop proved the head is cracked and not just the head gasket.
- Ask if the head is new, rebuilt, or used, and what the warranty is.
- Ask if the quote includes the head gasket set, new head bolts, coolant, and oil.
- Ask if the price covers machine work and a pressure test of the head.
- Compare the total with the range above: $3,041 to $6,232 for most cars.
Ways to pay less
- Ask if a rebuilt head would work. It can cost much less than a new one.
- Get at least three quotes. This is a big job and prices differ a lot.
- Weigh the car's value. On an old car, a used or swapped engine may cost less.
- Stop driving the moment the engine overheats. More heat can crack more parts and raise the bill.
Dealer or independent shop
RepairPal puts labor for a cylinder head replacement at $1,695 to $2,487. At the typical independent shop rate of about $140 an hour, that is about 14.9 hours of work. A dealer charging $200 an hour would bill about $2,987 for the same labor, and a $100 an hour shop about $1,494. Parts cost about the same anywhere, so the shop rate is where you can save. See what mechanics charge an hour.
Why this costs more in 2026
Shop labor now runs about $100 to $250 an hour. Many car parts are imported, and freight costs went up after the oil shock that began with the Iran war in February 2026. Steel, copper, aluminum and resin prices are up too, and they go into almost every part. Cylinder heads are cast aluminum with valves and cam parts inside, and aluminum and machined metal parts have gotten more costly.
How we got these numbers
The national range, the labor and parts split and the prices by car come from RepairPal's cylinder head replacement estimate, last updated September 3, 2026. We checked them against SoFi and AutoPartsWDS, and read every number on the source page on October 7, 2026. These are planning ranges, not quotes. Your shop's written estimate is the real price.
Common questions
How much does cylinder head replacement cost?
RepairPal puts the national range at $4,241 to $5,101. SoFi says $4,100 to $4,900 at an auto shop. AutoPartsWDS says $1,000 to $4,000 or more.
Can I drive with a bad cylinder head?
No. A cracked or warped head can leak coolant and overheat the engine. More driving can ruin the whole engine.
How long does it take?
It is a big job. Many shops need several days, since the engine top must come apart and the head may go to a machine shop.
Can I do it myself?
Only if you have strong engine skills and many tools. A small mistake can ruin the engine. Most people use a shop.